Dead Ringer
| Dead Ringer | |
|---|---|
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| Basic Information | |
| Used by: | Spy |
| Slot: | PDA 2 |
| Released: | The Sniper vs. Spy Update |
| Availability: | Unlock, Drop, Craft, Purchase or Uncrate #38 (Strange) |
| Tradable: | Yes |
| Giftable: | Yes |
| Craftable: | Yes |
| Nameable: | Yes |
| Craft No.?: | No |
| Medieval: | Yes |
| Available Qualities | |
| Loadout Stats | |
 The Dead Ringer |
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| “ | By the time your adversary races towards your 'body' to frisk you for cash and pull gold fillings out of your mouth, you'll already be behind him, poised for the killing blow.
— Dead Ringer publicity blurb
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The Dead Ringer is an unlockable PDA weapon for the Spy. It is a gold-plated pocket watch with an engraving of a hummingbird on its lid, and a circular Cloak display within.
This weapon's main attribute is to Cloak the owner for 6.5 seconds upon being injured, leaving behind a fake Spy corpse to distract and deceive enemies. If the player is disguised as a friendly class, activation drops a ragdoll corpse of that class. To use this Cloak, the Spy must be holding the watch by pressing secondary fire before taking damage. The Cloak generated is instantaneous, and can generate certain information in the game that will indicate the Spy is dead.
The Dead Ringer blocks 90% of the damage from the activating hit as well as during the first 6.5 seconds of the feign death Cloak. This allows the player to survive fully charged headshots by Snipers, backstabs from enemy Spies, and Taunt kills as long as the user has a sufficient amount of Health before the attack was made. Since backstabs have a base damage of 6 times the victim's current health, and the initial hit that activates the Dead Ringer does 10% damage, backstabs will deal 6/10 of the Spy's current health. Additionally, the watch prevents the Cloak from flickering upon impact with enemies or damage.
The Dead Ringer uncloaks with a very loud and distinct sound. The uncloak noise is quite loud up-close, but rapidly fades with distance. Emerging from the Dead Ringer's Cloak before it drops below 40% charge will always drain the meter down to 40%, though this penalty does not apply when decloaking with less than 40% remaining. As such, players will be left with between 0% and 40% remaining energy when emerging from the Dead Ringer's Cloak. Like the standard Invisibility Watch, resupply areas, Dispensers, picked up weapons, and ammo can also replenish the Cloak meter. A large ammo box and medium boxes will restore 35% and small boxes 25%. Dispensers in particular recharge a cloaked Spy with this watch differently depending on the building's level. Level 1 will only slow down the time it takes to decloak. Level 3 Dispensers, however, will very slowly recharge the Cloak to full. If a Spy is cloaked for more than 6.5 seconds using the Dead Ringer, through collecting ammo or other sources, it will revert to a standard Cloak, losing the 90% damage reduction and flickering if the player collides with an enemy or gets shot.
Activating the Dead Ringer while already on fire extinguishes it. The player must take evasive action, however, as they can be lit on fire again during Cloak. The Dead Ringer Cloak will activate even if the Spy was previously covered by Jarate – though the increased damage will still be in effect – but will short out if he is hit by Jarate while the Cloak is active. The Tribalman's Shiv, Southern Hospitality, Boston Basher, Three-Rune Blade, Wrap Assassin, or Flying Guillotine can inflict bleed which will cause the Spy to drop blood even while cloaked, allowing him to be tracked by sharp-eyed opponents.
The Dead Ringer is automatically given to any player who obtains 17 Spy achievements.
Contents
Feign death effects
Feign deaths have certain characteristics that affect the game. Some kill effects are replicated or faked as if the Spy is actually killed, while others are not, which may alert vigilant players of the feign.
| Mechanics replicated |
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| Mechanics faked |
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| Unaffected mechanics |
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Function times
| Function times (in seconds) | ||
|---|---|---|
| Effect | 90% damage reduction | |
| Cloak maximum duration | 6.5 s | |
| Cloak fade time | Instant | |
| Decloak fade time | Player: 2.2 sWorld: 1.8 s
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| Recharge time | 16 s | |
| Activation time | Instant | |
| Values are approximate and determined by community testing. | ||
Demonstration
Crafting
See also: Crafting
Blueprint
| Class Token - Spy | Slot Token - PDA2 | Scrap Metal | Possible Results | |||||||||||||||||||
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As a crafting ingredient
| Dead Ringer | Huntsman | Tribalman's Shiv | ||
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| Dead Ringer | Reclaimed Metal | L'Etranger | ||
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| Reclaimed Metal | Frontier Justice | Dead Ringer | Diamondback | |||
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Strange variant
Related achievements
Pyro
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Demoman
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Heavy
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Engineer
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Sniper
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Spy
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Update history
May 21, 2009 Patch (Sniper vs. Spy Update)
- The Dead Ringer was added to the game.
- Fixed Spy feign death not being reflected in scoreboard.
- This item now fully drains the Cloak meter, even if the Spy uncloaks early.
- Fixed Spies not being telefragged when standing on an enemy teleporter exit with this item enabled.
- This item can now be activated while carrying the flag.
- This item's Cloak consume rate has been slightly reduced, giving about an extra second of Cloak time on a full meter.
- Emerging from this item's Cloak now drains up to 40% of the Cloak meter instead of 100%. This drain only happens if the meter is at least 60% full.
- This item's Cloak meter can now be regenerated from ammo sources.
- This item's "extra" Cloak powers (damage reduction and no-flicker) are not extended by obtaining ammo.
- Being attacked while taunting with this item out no longer triggers a Spy's Cloak, but instead keeps the damage reduction for the remaining duration of the taunt.
- Fixed this item's damage reduction exploit involving Spy taunting.
- [Undocumented] This item's recharge time was shortened from 18.5 seconds to 16.5 seconds.
- This item now reduces Cloak to 40% when uncloaking early.
- Made a 35% cap on the amount of Cloak it can gain from an ammo pack.
- It now has a quieter decloak sound.
- Feigning death can now play custom death animations like a normal death (head loss, Sniper shot, backstab, etc).
- Feigning death due to explosive damage now has a chance to gib, like a normal death.
- Corpses from a feign death now use the correct wearable behavior (hats stay on, or fall off as they should).
- The weapons dropped by feign death corpses now have appropriate physics and collision for their type.
- Fixed Spies that feign death while disguised as enemy Spies dropping fake ragdolls wearing a mask.
- Fixed a couple of physics issues on ragdolls created by feign death.
- [Undocumented] The Dead Ringer was added in the crafting blueprint for the Tribalman's Shiv.
September 30, 2010 Patch (Mann-Conomy Update)
- [Undocumented] The Dead Ringer was added in the crafting blueprint for the L'Etranger.
- [Undocumented] Your silhouette can be seen if touching an enemy.
October 13, 2011 Patch (Manniversary Update & Sale)
- [Undocumented] The Dead Ringer now plays a tone if Cloak is fully recharged.
- [Undocumented] Added Strange Quality.
- Death pits on sd doomsday now properly kill Dead Ringered Spies.
- Fixed a Dead Ringer Spy exploit in Mann Vs. Machine mode
Unused content
- The Dead Ringer has an unused world model featuring a chain which would have likely hung on to the Spy's suit.
Bugs
- The Cloak meter displayed on the watch does not properly correspond to the actual amount of Cloak available, similar to Enthusiast's Timepiece.
- If the Spy takes any damage – with the exception of taunt kills that stun the enemy like the Organ Grinder – while taunting with the Dead Ringer activated, the Spy does not feign death and a fake watch is created. However, only the first hit will have reduced damage. Each hit after that takes full damage. The player can right click again to activate the actual Dead Ringer.
- Feigning death on circumstances that should trigger an unique death scream will issue a normal death scream.
- The damage reduction from the Dead Ringer applies to drowning damage as well. However, the Spy will recover the full amount of health that would have been lost without the Dead Ringer, allowing players to heal themselves by intentionally drowning.
- Activating the watch upon round start will sometimes cause the Spy not to hold up the watch. This can only be fixed by dying.
- There is an occasional bug that occurs with the Dead Ringer where, once activated, the watch will report that the Spy's killer "got revenge" on him, even if they were not dominated or don't exist. When the Spy is killed by environmental hazards or fall damage, "ERRORNAME" will get revenge on the Spy. These messages are only broadcast to the other team, just like all faked mechanics of the Dead Ringer.
- Causing an enemy Spy to feign death with the Dead Ringer may trigger the domination sound cue and notification, even if said Spy was already being dominated by the player.
- When reloading the Revolver, changing weapon to the Sapper, or using the Sharp Dresser while quickly activating the Dead Ringer, three hands can be momentarily seen.
- Some achievements that involve killing cloaked Spies can be achieved by attacking a Spy with his Dead Ringer ready.
- Often the fake body will slide on the ground without moving it's actual limbs upon faking your death for enemies.
Trivia
- When ping and network transmission are not an issue, a Spy can bring up the Dead Ringer and be protected in less than 1/100th of a second. In the average online match this margin is greater, but the times serve to show that the Dead Ringer was designed with no real activation delay.
- Dead Ringer is a phrase used to describe an exact duplicate of something or someone else; for example, "He's a Dead Ringer for that BLU Spy we shot earlier!". The "ringer" part of the phrase refers to a replacement or impostor, especially in sporting events, making the fake corpse an actual "dead ringer".
- The ability to feign death was present in Team Fortress Classic, and the Dead Ringer's function was likely inspired by that ability. However, in Team Fortress Classic, feigning death was limited to being rendered immobile and having to hope that the enemy would have already passed by when you uncloaked.
- On the third day of the Sniper vs. Spy Update where the Razorback was introduced, the Dead Ringer can be seen in the "dead" Spy's hand, despite the fact that it wouldn't be officially announced until the next day.[1]
- The Dead Ringer is mentioned by the Heavy in Poker Night at The Inventory during a fold response with the line; "The cards flop worse than Spy with Dead Ringer."
Gallery
RED first-person view
BLU first-person view
Unused world model
References
See also
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| Weapons | ||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Primary | Scattergun | Rocket Launcher | Flame Thrower | Grenade Launcher | Minigun | Shotgun | Syringe Gun | Sniper Rifle | — | |
| Force-A-Nature Shortstop Soda Popper Baby Face's Blaster Back Scatter |
Direct Hit Black Box Rocket Jumper Liberty Launcher Cow Mangler 5000 Original Beggar's Bazooka Air Strike |
Backburner Degreaser Phlogistinator Rainblower Nostromo Napalmer Dragon's Fury |
Loch-n-Load Ali Baba's Wee Booties Bootlegger Loose Cannon B.A.S.E. Jumper Iron Bomber |
Natascha Iron Curtain Brass Beast Tomislav Huo-Long Heater |
Frontier Justice Widowmaker Pomson 6000 Rescue Ranger Panic Attack |
Blutsauger Crusader's Crossbow Overdose |
Huntsman Sydney Sleeper Bazaar Bargain Machina Hitman's Heatmaker AWPer Hand Fortified Compound Classic Shooting Star |
— | ||
| Secondary | Pistol | Shotgun | Shotgun | Stickybomb Launcher | Shotgun | Pistol | Medi Gun | SMG | Revolver | |
| Bonk! Atomic Punch Lugermorph Crit-a-Cola Mad Milk Winger Pretty Boy's Pocket Pistol Flying Guillotine Mutated Milk C.A.P.P.E.R |
Buff Banner Gunboats Battalion's Backup Concheror Mantreads Reserve Shooter Righteous Bison B.A.S.E. Jumper Panic Attack |
Flare Gun Detonator Reserve Shooter Manmelter Scorch Shot Panic Attack Gas Passer Thermal Thruster |
Chargin' Targe Scottish Resistance Sticky Jumper Splendid Screen Tide Turner Quickiebomb Launcher |
Sandvich Dalokohs Bar Buffalo Steak Sandvich Fishcake Family Business Robo-Sandvich Panic Attack Second Banana |
Lugermorph Wrangler Short Circuit C.A.P.P.E.R Giger Counter |
Kritzkrieg Quick-Fix Vaccinator |
Jarate Razorback Darwin's Danger Shield Cozy Camper Cleaner's Carbine Self-Aware Beauty Mark |
Ambassador Big Kill L'Etranger Enforcer Diamondback | ||
| Melee | Bat | Shovel | Fire Axe | Bottle | Fists | Wrench | Bonesaw | Kukri | Knife | |
| Sandman Frying Pan Holy Mackerel Boston Basher Candy Cane Sun-on-a-Stick Fan O'War Three-Rune Blade Saxxy Atomizer Conscientious Objector Unarmed Combat Wrap Assassin Freedom Staff Bat Outta Hell Memory Maker Ham Shank Golden Frying Pan Necro Smasher Crossing Guard Batsaber Prinny Machete |
Equalizer Pain Train Frying Pan Half-Zatoichi Saxxy Disciplinary Action Market Gardener Conscientious Objector Escape Plan Freedom Staff Bat Outta Hell Memory Maker Ham Shank Golden Frying Pan Necro Smasher Crossing Guard Prinny Machete |
Axtinguisher Homewrecker Frying Pan Powerjack Back Scratcher Sharpened Volcano Fragment Maul Saxxy Postal Pummeler Conscientious Objector Third Degree Lollichop Neon Annihilator Freedom Staff Bat Outta Hell Memory Maker Ham Shank Golden Frying Pan Necro Smasher Crossing Guard Prinny Machete Hot Hand |
Eyelander Pain Train Scotsman's Skullcutter Frying Pan Horseless Headless Horsemann's Headtaker Claidheamh Mòr Ullapool Caber Half-Zatoichi Saxxy Persian Persuader Nessie's Nine Iron Conscientious Objector Scottish Handshake Freedom Staff Bat Outta Hell Memory Maker Ham Shank Golden Frying Pan Necro Smasher Crossing Guard Prinny Machete |
Killing Gloves of Boxing Frying Pan Gloves of Running Urgently Fists of Steel Warrior's Spirit Saxxy Eviction Notice Conscientious Objector Apoco-Fists Holiday Punch Freedom Staff Bat Outta Hell Memory Maker Ham Shank Golden Frying Pan Bread Bite Necro Smasher Crossing Guard Prinny Machete |
Golden Wrench Gunslinger Southern Hospitality Jag Saxxy Eureka Effect Golden Frying Pan Necro Smasher Prinny Machete |
Ubersaw Frying Pan Vita-Saw Amputator Saxxy Solemn Vow Conscientious Objector Freedom Staff Bat Outta Hell Memory Maker Ham Shank Golden Frying Pan Necro Smasher Crossing Guard Prinny Machete |
Tribalman's Shiv Bushwacka Frying Pan Saxxy Shahanshah Conscientious Objector Freedom Staff Bat Outta Hell Memory Maker Ham Shank Golden Frying Pan Necro Smasher Crossing Guard Prinny Machete |
Your Eternal Reward Conniver's Kunai Saxxy Big Earner Wanga Prick Sharp Dresser Spy-cicle Black Rose Golden Frying Pan Prinny Machete | ||
| Primary PDA | — | — | — | — | — | Construction PDA | — | — | Disguise Kit | |
| — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| Secondary PDA | — | — | — | — | — | Destruction PDA | — | — | Invis Watch | |
| — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | Cloak and Dagger Dead Ringer Enthusiast's Timepiece Quäckenbirdt | ||
| Building | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | Sapper | |
| — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | Red-Tape Recorder Ap-Sap Snack Attack | ||
| Taunt | Grand Slam | Grenade | Hadouken Armageddon Execution Gas Blast |
Barbarian Swing | High Noon | Arm Blender Guitar Smash |
Oktoberfest Uberslice Medicating Melody |
Arrow Stab | Fencing | |
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